Chapter 26
Lewis
We went back to the pub night after Noah cleaned up in the brewery bathroom. I held him back just outside the pub to smooth out his curls and make him look a little less like I’d just fucked him senseless.
“There, that’s better.”
He smiled up at me, but I still felt terrible for losing control like I had.
“Do you want a drink?” I asked him with my hand hovering over the small of his back.
“Only if I’m staying the night,” he murmured so nobody would hear us.
“Sure.” As if I’d pass on Noah spending a night in my bed. It would be the first time he’d stay over—every time I’d asked him so far he had left under the pretense of having to take care of his Mr Pickles.
Tonight he’ll take care of this big cat.
“Come on, I’ll grab us beers, and I think I’ve just seen Duncan over there.”
Noah waited for me and together we pushed through the crowd to get to Duncan, who nursed a tumbler of whisky over by a standing table.
“Lew,” he greeted me, flung an arm around me, and clapped me on the back.
“Hey.” Dunc turned to my puppy and held out a broad, hairy hand.
“Hi, I’m Noah.” They shook hands.
“The boyfriend,” I added and glanced at Noah out of the corner of my eye. He bit his lip, but his grin won and he leaned into my body.
“The boyfriend,” he affirmed.
“Pleasure.” My friend chuckled but didn’t press the matter. “How are things in yer world, Lew?”
“Busy.” I explained about the upcoming brewing course but left out that I wanted to spend all my time with my boyfriend.
Gods, the word made me so giddy. And this was the first time I’d ever said it out loud.
And he said it, too. Did he mean it? Actually mean it?
Then I remembered that Ollie still didn’t know anything, and that Noah probably still leaked my cum.
Fuck.
I pushed both thoughts firmly aside and focused on Duncan.
Just keep your cool until you’re alone.
Dunc told us about his ewes, and how he expected the first lambs in a few weeks.
“Maybe ye want tae come over and look at them. They’re a bit skittish with the big cat here”—he nudged me with his elbow and, tall as he was as a bear shifter, he reached my elbow—“but they’ll like ye.”
Noah took a deep breath and smiled at Duncan.
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
We stayed for a bit longer to chat and had another beer. Eventually I felt comfortable enough and slipped my arm around Noah’s waist.
Ollie was busy and the crowd was so dense he wouldn’t be able to tell that I was hugging his brother to me unless he stood right in front of us, anyway.
Later, at my apartment, Noah took off his coat and pulled the hoodie I’d left on my kitchen chair over his head. He looked so pretty I wanted to cry.
“I’m sorry about earlier, Noah,” I said. I didn’t dare to get closer to him. “I was a jealous asshole. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that. I’m—”
“I know.” He snorted and crossed the room to where I stood by the door.
“Listen, Pretty Kitty, I am not interested in anyone else.” He raised his soulful eyes to my face.
“Duncan is hot. I mean, thick, that kilt, the nose ring? That’s the holy trifecta of hotness.
And Hunter is definitely my type. But I.
Am. Not. Interested.” He accentuated every word with a poke in my stomach.
“I just want ….” Noah smirked and dragged me down by the front of my shirt until our mouths were barely an inch apart. “You. I just want you.”
He kissed me hard.
“Just stop with this bullshit,” Noah scolded me and nipped my lip. Gods, it made me feral when he did that. “It wasn’t cute when we were kids, and it’s not cute now.”
“Okay. I’m really sorry. I promise, it won’t happen again.” It wouldn’t. I cringed in embarrassment at how I’d escalated every single time someone so much as looked at Noah the wrong way. He was right. It hadn’t been cute in school, and it was even dumber for an adult to lose control like that.
“Come to bed with me.” Noah pulled me out of my head and into the bedroom. He laid down and invited me to curl up against his front so he could spoon me. “I love you,” he whispered into my neck. “So stop behaving like a cunt, Sinclair.”